British Antarctic Survey – Delivering Polar Operations. Today and into the future

Speaker: Oliver Darke FRGS  – Director of Polar Operations Engineering & Infrastructure at the British Antarctic Survey

Synopsis: The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) strives to uncover the secrets of the Polar and frozen regions of Earth. An organisation with world leading expertise that spans the depths of the oceans to the inner edge of space. BAS provides the UK with its national polar capability by operating research stations, aircraft and the RRS Sir David Attenborough. This talk will cover how the British Antarctic Survey facilitates scientific research in one of the most remote and challenging regions in the world.

Oliver (Ollie) Darke is the Director of Polar Operations, Engineering and Infrastructure at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The BAS Board Director responsible for

• The safe operation and maintenance of the UKs flagship polar research vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
• A fleet of 5 ‘science ready’ aircraft, deployed to some of the most challenging environments in the world.
• The British Antarctic Survey Estate. Including 6 polar research stations and the BAS HQ in Cambridge. An extensive, highly complex, Estate spread across both Polar Regions, the UK and the Falkland Islands.
• The safe annual deployment of up to 600 scientists and staff to the Polar Regions and beyond

Since joining the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in 2015, Ollie has delivered construction and engineering projects across both Polar regions and all corners of BAS activity. Beginning his BAS career with the complex Halley Relocation Project allowed Oliver to accumulate significant deployed experience in a leadership role.  Today, Ollie is a Royal Geographical society fellow, Vice-Chair of The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs and a UK Antarctic Heritage Trust Trustee.

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